Cristiano Ronaldo delivers defiant Al-Nassr message amid jibes and a Lionel Messi repeat

Cristiano Ronaldo has made clear his disappointment at Al-Nassr losing 1-0 against Al-Ittihad with the forward again experiencing Lionel Messi heckles.

The former Manchester United player played the full 90 minutes on Thursday but could not prevent them from falling behind to a late Romarinho goal in Jeddah. It is the second time that Al-Nassr has been beaten by the team coached by former Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Back in late January, Romarinho scored the opening goal and assisted the other two as Al-Ittihad won the Saudi Super Cup semi-final 3-1 in what was Ronaldo's second competitive match since arriving in the kingdom. Just over a month later, Ronaldo was again on the losing side but the Portugal international insists the focus on trying to claim the league title remains.

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"Disappointed with the result, but we stay focused on our season and the games ahead," said Ronaldo on social media. "Thank you Al Nassr fans for your support, we know we can count on you!"

A disappointing day only worsened following the full-time whistle as opposition supporters reacted to Ronaldo lashing out at a water bottle lying pitch-side by booing and taunting him with chants of 'Messi!,' while approaching the tunnel, referring to Ronaldo's long-time rival Lionel Messi.

It is the second time in the space of a week he has heard such heckles. At half-time in Al-Nassr's last match at home in Riyadh, a supporter informed Ronaldo that "Messi is so much better than you!"

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